Grand Californian Super Thread

[DianaSparrow]

Just wanted to post this since a number of diser's stated that you can not pick up the F tickets at the hotel.

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Good Morning ,[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Just a note to let you know that we have purchased your Fantasmic Premium Viewing tickets for August 19, 9:05 PM .Your Tickets will be waiting for you when you check in at the Grand Californian Hotel & Villa’s . [/FONT]
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Disneyland Resort
Vacation Planning
714 300-7526 Option #2

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Jack

Fantasmic! tickets are given to the guest only when they are staying onsite and most importantly ordered through Vacation Planning. If you order your tickets without going through Vacation Planning they have to picked-up at guest services at the front gate.

I love ordering through them, as well as making my dining reservations with them too, since when you check in, Vacation Planning provides you will a list of all your dining reservations!

Have a great time Jack! We'll be there in just two days!!!!!

 

[blackjackdelta]

How did you get the hotel to take care of it? or did you just call the # and tell them you would be at the hotel? thanks

I think it has to do with staying on site and using Vacation Planning. Just wanted to clarify that it can be done.

Jack

 

[blackjackdelta]

Fantasmic! tickets are given to the guest only when they are staying onsite and most importantly ordered through Vacation Planning. If you order your tickets without going through Vacation Planning they have to picked-up at guest services at the front gate.

I love ordering through them, as well as making my dining reservations with them too, since when you check in, Vacation Planning provides you will a list of all your dining reservations!

Have a great time Jack! We'll be there in just two days!!!!!

Thanks, 26 days and we will be there. I love the itinerary that they send you and the fantastic service.

Jack

 

[HydroGuy]

Just wanted to post this since a number of diser's stated that you can not pick up the F tickets at the hotel.

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Good Morning ,[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Just a note to let you know that we have purchased your Fantasmic Premium Viewing tickets for August 19, 9:05 PM .Your Tickets will be waiting for you when you check in at the Grand Californian Hotel & Villa’s . [/FONT]



[FONT=Book Antiqua, serif]Disneyland Resort [/FONT]
[FONT=Book Antiqua, serif]Vacation Planning[/FONT]
[FONT=Book Antiqua, serif]714 300-7526 Option #2[/FONT]

[FONT=Book Antiqua, serif]

[/FONT]


Jack

They told me the same thing. I can get the F! tickets at the GCH upon check-in.

 

[nonzerosum]

They told me the same thing. I can get the F! tickets at the GCH upon check-in.

I was also told this.

 

[nunzia]

I was also told this.

That is good to know..the last time I got the F! tickets..through Vacation Planning and staying at the the Grand, I had to pick them up at a window outside the park. Nice upgrade in service!

 

[BigDogMom7]

We just got home from a very hot week in a 1 BR at the GCV. Last Friday and Saturday were over 95 degrees - too hot to stay in the parks!

Misc. thoughts and observations:
1. WOC is wonderful, but the lines to get fastpasses are ridiculous. Fortunately, DLR guests (all of them, not just GCV) get priority in the fastpass lines from 9 to 9:30; after 9:30 the lines are long all day. At 9:15 on Monday, there was NO line and we got blue fastpasses. We arrived at 8 pm and were able to watch from the bridge on the way to Ariel's Grotto with only 1 row of people in front of us.

2. If you are a light sleeper, the noise from (a) construction for the Little Mermaid ride and (b) WOC will bother you from 6 am until 11:45 pm if you are in a room facing California Adventure. If I had it to do over, I would have switched rooms to a pool view after the first night (but my DH didn't want to move after getting all settled in).

3. Gardenwalk had many empty store fronts and there were not many people there on Sunday afternoon; my DD16 said it was almost eerie.

4. Get reservations if you want to eat at the Rainforest, unless you are willing to eat late!

5. Toy Story Midway Mania stays open while WOC is on! When there is a third showing of WOC (and there was a third one every single night, July 13-20), the park stays open until 11 am. We got in line for TSMM at about 9:45 pm and managed to ride 3 times before they closed. Between 10:30 and 11, it really was a walk on. Fun ride, too!

6. The pools at GCH were nice and warm - just the way we like it!

7. You cannot beat the location of the GCH - it is SO convenient to Downtown Disney, as well as CA and Disneyland.

I'm debating whether to try my hand at a trip report, but just wanted to pass on some misc. tips while they are fresh on my mind.

 

[jwwi]

BigDogMom7,
Thanks for sharing your observations. I wish I would have checked out TSM at night. I only rode the ride three times during my 5 days at the parks. Every single time I waited for rope drop and went directly to the ride. We made the mistake the first morning of waiting for rope drop near the front of the park, every single person that waited near the Little Mermaid construction rope drop arrived at the ride before us. We didn't make that mistake again. The silver lining was being able to ride Soarin during the first ride.
We did have a park facing room at the GCH, not a villa but in the same wing. I am not sure if it was due to the soundproof patio door, or 3rd floor location, but the noise never bothered us. We loved the GCH, the pool and the very friendly CMs. It was also nice to get into DCA for the WOC fastpass at 9:00. I am somewhat surprised at how much I enjoyed our whole trip, I have been to WDW so many times, but I loved how close everything is at DLR. I must add that the fireworks at DL were wonderful.

 

[jwwi]

BigDogMom7,
Thanks for sharing your observations. I wish I would have checked out TSM at night. I only rode the ride three times during my 5 days at the parks. Every single time I waited for rope drop and went directly to the ride. We made the mistake the first morning of waiting for rope drop near the front of the park, every single person that waited near the Little Mermaid construction rope drop arrived at the ride before us. We didn't make that mistake again. The silver lining was being able to ride Soarin during the first ride.
We did have a park facing room at the GCH, not a villa but in the same wing. I am not sure if it was due to the soundproof patio door, or 3rd floor location, but the noise never bothered us. We loved the GCH, the pool and the very friendly CMs. It was also nice to get into DCA for the WOC fastpass at 9:00. I am somewhat surprised at how much I enjoyed our whole trip, I have been to WDW so many times, but I loved how close everything is at DLR. BTW the fireworks at DL were wonderful, did you see them?

 

[Marilynbn]

What are "Blue Fast passes"?

Marilyn

 

[Golfing Goofy]

Thanks for telling us about TSM, BigDogMom7! We were there in June and that part of DCA was closed in the evenings before WOC. We never got a chance to ride TSM.

Now, we will be sure to ride TSM the next time we go! Thanks again.


Thanks for the info regarding the park view, jwwi. I was wondering about the noise when we were there in June. We had a standard view and were never in the room. This time we will have a park view. I am glad that there won't be much noise.

 

[nunzia]

What are "Blue Fast passes"?

Marilyn

These are World of Color fastpases that let you be in the blue section..

 

[sierranevada]

That is good to know..the last time I got the F! tickets..through Vacation Planning and staying at the the Grand, I had to pick them up at a window outside the park. Nice upgrade in service!

It is an upgrade in service - I think it started last year? I remember being surprised when we check in last year that they had our F! tickets. And count me as another person who loves Vacation Planning!!!!!!!! And the itinerary they give you is a great souvenir!

 

[PrincessIM]

I don't have any real advice, but we did upgrade at check-in from standard view to standard view concierge in December...there was no price break...no regrets, though...concierge level is awesome!

We just got back and we were upgraded from a standard view to Downtown Disney view without asking. It was great, we could watch the fireworks from our room.

 

[Mom of a *Princess*]

Has anyone shipped packages to the GCH prior to their visit? If so, how was your experience?

I'm thinking of making some online purchases ( i.e. clothes) and having them shipped to the GCH just before we get there. Would GCH accept the packages? Who should I call to let them know I am planning to do this... Vaction Planning?

TIA.

 

[funatdisney]

2. If you are a light sleeper, the noise from (a) construction for the Little Mermaid ride and (b) WOC will bother you from 6 am until 11:45 pm if you are in a room facing California Adventure. If I had it to do over, I would have switched rooms to a pool view after the first night (but my DH didn't want to move after getting all settled in).

5. Toy Story Midway Mania stays open while WOC is on! When there is a third showing of WOC (and there was a third one every single night, July 13-20), the park stays open until 11 am. We got in line for TSMM at about 9:45 pm and managed to ride 3 times before they closed. Between 10:30 and 11, it really was a walk on. Fun ride, too!

Thanks for the info! I especially liked the TSMM tip. I just love that ride.

 

[judben821]

Sorry if this has been brought up before...

Is there a pool bar at this hotel? I can't find any pictures of one, so I'm wondering if maybe they don't have one like all the disney hotels in Fl.

Thanks!

 

[blackjackdelta]

Sorry if this has been brought up before...

Is there a pool bar at this hotel? I can't find any pictures of one, so I'm wondering if maybe they don't have one like all the disney hotels in Fl.

Thanks!

I know you can order drinks from the pool cabana area but have not seen a pool bar.

Jack

 

[franandaj]

Sorry if this has been brought up before...

Is there a pool bar at this hotel? I can't find any pictures of one, so I'm wondering if maybe they don't have one like all the disney hotels in Fl.

Thanks!

It is located right next to the entrance to Whitewater snacks, but they deliver to your lounge chair. I suppose you could order at the bar as well.

 

[mika911]

Have non-DVC members been able to book villa rooms at the Californian yet?

I sure hope I have the opportunity to stay in one someday.